The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
Office of Child & Youth Protection | 3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington DC
20017-1194 | (202) 541-3000 [email protected]
2004 Diocesan and Eparchial Compliance Audits of the Implementation of the
Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People
2004 Audit Executive Summary: Apostolic Exarchate of Armenian Catholics
Exarch Manual Batakian Previous Audit- incomplete 2003
The information found herein represents conditions as they were found to
exist during the period from August 24 to 26, 2004.
Findings
To Promote Healing and Reconciliation (Articles 1, 2 and 3)
The Exarchate does have a policy on the prevention of sexual abuse of minors
by clergy. This program is based on the agreement of five of the six
dioceses, in which the Exarchate’s clergy conduct their ministry, to support
the Exarchate in its implementation of the Charter. The Exarchate does not
have its own outreach program to provide outreach designed to offer pastoral
care to victims/survivors and their families as it is not anticipated that
diocesan clergy will provide this service within the Exarchate. The Bishop
or his representative has not met with, or offered to meet with all
victims/survivors who have reported allegations of abuse since the last
compliance audit since there are no known victims/survivors as of the time
of the audit. The Bishop or his delegate has not directed outreach to all
faith communities in which the sexual abuse occurred because there are no
known victims/survivors. The Exarchate does have a mechanism in place to
respond promptly to any allegation where there is reason to believe that
sexual abuse of a minor occurred. A Required Action was issued regarding the
absence of an Outreach Program (see Required Action # 1)
The Exarchate does not have its own victim assistance coordinator as it
relies on the support of the victim assistance coordinators in five of the
Roman dioceses in which the Exarchate’s clergy reside. Negotiations continue
to secure similar support from the sixth and final diocese in which the
Exarchate conducts ministry (see required Action # 5). This arrangement also
applies to the establishment and constitution of a Review Board.
The procedures for making a complaint of abuse are not readily available in
printed form and have not been the subject of periodic public announcements.
Required Action #6 was issued The Exarchate relies on the Roman dioceses to
provide those needed services. The Exarchate has not entered into
confidentiality agreement during the audit period.
To Guarantee Effective Response to Allegations of Abuse of a Minor (Articles
4, 5, 6 and 7)
The Exarchate has never had any allegations of sexual abuse of a minor. With
regard to the Exarchate’s compliance with these Articles of the Charter, the
Exarchate complies in that it has arranged for five of the six dioceses in
which its clergy serve to support it in its implementation of the Charter.
Although dialogue continues with the sixth and final diocese, agreement has
not been reached as of the time of this audit and a Required Action (# 5)
was issued. The Exarchate has relied on its supporting dioceses to establish
effective liaison with civil authorities, ensuring that an open dialogue
regarding sexual abuse allegations will occur through its arrangement with
the dioceses in which its clergy serve. The Exarchate also relies on the
cooperation of its supporting dioceses with public authorities about
reporting in cases when the person is no longer a minor. To date, the
Exarchate has not had to advise victims/survivors of their right to report
allegations of abuse by a member of the clergy to civil authorities as there
have been no victims.
The Exarchate relies upon its supporting dioceses to conduct a preliminary
investigation in harmony with canon law. If a preliminary investigation so
indicated, the Exarchate will notify the Congregation for the Doctrine of
Faith and apply the precautionary measures mentioned in CIC, canon 1722, or
CCEO, canon 1473. When accusations against a priest or a deacon are proved
to be unfounded, the Exarchate will take steps to restore the good name of
the priest or deacon.
When sexual abuse of a minor by a priest or a deacon is admitted or
established after an appropriate process in accord with canon law, the
Exarchial policies provide that the offending priest or deacon be
permanently removed from ministry. The Exarchate will offer professional
assistance to offending priests or deacons as per its policy.
In every case involving canonical penalties, the Exarchial processes
provided for in canon law will be observed as per its policy. Accused clergy
will similarly be encouraged to retain the assistance of civil and canonical
counsel. When necessary, the Exarchate will also supply canonical counsel to
a priest or deacon.
If the penalty of dismissal from the clerical state has not been applied,
the Exarchate has committed to direct the offender to lead a life of prayer
and penance. The Exarchate’s policy does not allow the offender to celebrate
Mass publicly, to administer the sacraments, or to present himself publicly
as a priest.
The Exarchate has established clear and well-publicized standards of
ministerial behavior for priests and deacons. A communications policy is not
in effect which reflects the Bishop’s pledge to be open and transparent on
issues regarding the sexual abuse of children (see Required Action # 2). The
Exarchate has not had an occasion to date to assist and support all parish
communities directly affected by ministerial misconduct involving minors as
there has never been a reported incident of sexual abuse.
To Protect the Faithful in the Future (Articles 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17)
The Exarchate has not implemented a “safe environment” education program
(see required Action # 3). The Exarchate has clear standards of conduct for
persons in positions of trust with regard to sexual abuse which will be
publicized. The Exarchate has not conducted background evaluations for any
Exarchial and parish personnel who have regular contact with minors, using
appropriate law enforcement resources where permissible (see Required Action
# 4). The Exarchate does employ adequate screening and evaluative techniques
in deciding the fitness of candidates for ordination.
The Exarchate has not transferred any priest or deacon who has had a
credible allegation of sexual abuse made against him to another ministerial
assignment since the last audit. The Exarchate has not transferred any
priest or deacon who has had a credible allegation of sexual abuse made
against him to another diocese/Exarchate for residence since the last audit
period. There have been no instances of sexual abuse of a minor.
The Bishop, or his designee, has not fully coordinated with each bishop or
major superior of men in each of dioceses the Exarchate’s clergy conduct
their ministry concerning addressing the issue of allegations of sexual
abuse of minors by clergy (see Required Action # 5). The Exarchate has not
had the opportunity to participate in research with other institutions in
the area of sexual abuse. The Exarchate’s systematic ongoing formation
program in keeping with the Basic Plan for the Ongoing Formation of Priests
is conducted by its seminaries which are not located in the United States.
Compliance with the Provisions of the Charter
At the conclusion of this compliance audit, the Exarchate was found to be
compliant with all articles of the Charter for the Protection of Children
and Young People with the exception of Articles 1, 2, 7, 12, 13 and 15. The
following Required Actions were issued:
REQUIRED ACTION # 1 (Article # 1) – Healing, Outreach and Reconciliation
The Exarchate will create and implement its own written Outreach Program to
provide for the healing, outreach and reconciliation of victims/survivors
and their families. Pastoral care should be provided for in this program and
it should also provide for periodic public announcements to encourage
victims/survivors and the families to come forward. This Outreach Program
should provide for counseling, spiritual assistance, support groups and
other social services as agreed upon by the victim/survivor and the
Exarchate.
REQUIRED ACTION # 2 (Article 7) – Communication Policy
The Exarchate will establish a written communications policy to demonstrate
its commitment to openness and transparency. This policy should fully avail
itself of already established forms of communication (ex. letters from the
Exarch, the Exarchate’s Publication entitled “The Flame”, parish bulletins
and parish sermons) to advise parishioners of its Outreach Program, to
invite participation in its Safe Environment Program, to publicize
initiatives taken to fulfill the mandates of the CHARTER as well as any
additional reason deemed appropriate by the Exarchate. This policy will also
pertain to the publication by clergy to parishioners of at least the
following documents: victim/survivor complaint forms, the Exarchate’s Code
of Conduct, the Exarchate’s Policy on the Sexual Abuse of Minors by Clergy
and church personnel and both the Exarchate’s Safe Environment and
Background Investigation programs. Communication of these initiatives will
be made as soon as possible and will also be subject of periodic
re-announcements.
REQUIRED ACTION # 3 (Article 12) – Safe Environment
That the Exarchate establish and implement a written “safe environment”
program which will provide training to ensure that children, youth, parents,
ministers, educators and other appropriate per: The Exarchate will establish
a written program to provide for the background investigation for all
Exarchial and parish personnel who have regular contact with minors. The
Exarchate will implement this program immediately upon its creation.
REQUIRED ACTION # 4 (Article 13) – Background Investigation
The Exarchate will establish a written program to provide for the background
investigation for all Exarchial and parish personnel who have regular
contact with minors. The Exarchate will implement this program immediately
upon its creation.
REQUIRED ACTION # 5 (Article 15) – Periodic meetings with diocesan bishops
The Exarch will meet with the cardinal who has not agreed to support the
Exarchate to discuss his request to receive the support of this diocese in
facilitating the implementation of the CHARTER on behalf of the Exarchate’s
clergy. In the event that such agreement is not reached, the Exarchate will
devise its own program to implement the CHARTER for its clergy in that
particular diocese.
REQUIRED ACTION #6 (Article 2) – Response and Reporting
Insure that procedures are established for making a complaint of abuse, that
they are available in printed form, and that they are the subject of
periodic public announcement.
Compliance with the Charter as of December 31, 2004
As of December 31, 2004, the Armenian Eparchy of Brooklyn was compliant with
all articles of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People
except Articles 1, 2, 7, 12, and 13. The Eparchy completed the required
action outline in #5, (Article 15) above.